$2.5m retail precinct for Ballina

A NEW bulky goods retail precinct worth more than $2.5 million has been proposed for an old motel site at West Ballina.

Skennars Head architect Paul Gray lodged the development application with Ballina Shire Council last week.

He lodged the DA on behalf of the landowners, Autoline Motor Holdings, a Lismore company.

The Pacific Highway development would involve two separate buildings with several tenants, including a food outlet and bait and tackle shop. Other tenants have not been confirmed.

Council's regulatory group services manager Rod Willis said the retail precinct would have a total of 2833sqm of floor space.

“There will also be 81 car parks as part of the development,” he said.

“However we haven't got to the stage of assessing the DA yet.”

The site is east of the Big Prawn, which the council has approved for demolition.

Meanwhile, the council is expected to make a decision in the near future on the DA for liquor giant Dan Murphy's.

The outlet would be situated on the Pacific Highway between McDonald's and The Good Guys. Mr Willis said the application had been with the council 'for some time' but had 'some parking and traffic management issues'.